Old Fashioned Cinnamon Toast
I’m sharing a recipe for old fashioned cinnamon toast that originated from the seventies. I guess it really is old fashioned! Wait until you see the easiest recipe that comes out smelling and tasting totally amazing.
What’s so special about this recipe?
You’re not going to see a piece of toast that’s slathered with butter and then sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.
Oh no, you are in for a real treat.
As simple and easy the recipe is and will take you such a short time to prepare, it tastes like cinnamon heaven.
My mom Ruthie would make her own version of cinnamon toast and it was so delicious. She knew how much we all loved it.
The recipe below isn’t hers but, cinnamon toast will always remind me of my wonderful mom. ❤️
The short history behind my recipe…
The background from the original recipe is from when I was living on the north shore of Long Island, New York.
While in junior high. (We didn’t call it middle school in the 70s and 80s)
I was in 7th grade at the time. First year of junior high school and first year to start home economics.
Home Ec for short.
The class was a mandatory subject all those years ago.
I’m not sure it still is but, it’s still offered since I have a fourteen year old boy who took it last year in middle school.
Way back when I took the class, believe it or not, it was just for girls.
How things have changed.
I remember so clearly how the kitchens looked in that classroom.
It was a huge classroom on the bottom floor of the junior high building.
The back wall were all windows that overlooked one of the playgrounds.
There were four kitchens set up. Two were a pale green color and the other two kitchens were a faded pink color. I’m talking about the cabinets and counter tops.
I can’t believe I remember what they looked like!
The refrigerators matched the cabinets.
Each kitchen also had a small rectangle Formica kind of table with the metal going around the sides of the table.
Four sturdy chairs with the seats and backs the color of the cabinets.
Getting back to making old fashioned cinnamon toast…
It was the very first recipe we made in home economics class.
All the girls were so excited. We were told that after we made each recipe they would give us time to sit in the little assigned kitchens and eat the final result.
But, not before we finished washing whatever utensils and other kitchen items used to make that particular recipe.
Just making this simple recipe was thrilling for me and I’m sure most of the girls in the class.
For twelve and thirteen year old girls that never really cooked before it really was a thrill.
I remember like it was yesterday how the whole classroom smelled while the cinnamon toast was in the oven.
Beyond wonderful.
When we took the sheet pan out of the oven which was lined with aluminum foil, we couldn’t wait to take the first bite.
We each got to make two slices per person.
That first day, the teacher gave each of us our own set of ovenmits and had to remove the hot pieces of cinnamon toast using a spatula.
Taking turns of course.
Then, we plated the two slices on the kind of dishes that the Brady Bunch ate on.
A melamine resin plate.
Of course each piece of the sets in each kitchen matched the cabinets.
Shades of pink and green.
If you dropped any of the dishes, they just bounced. They didn’t break.
When we finally sat down and took our first bite. I still have to say to this day, as simple and easy that recipe was, it was the best thing I had ever eaten.
This is why I make cinnamon toast all the time!
I never tire of it and neither does my family.
Now, my son makes it on Sunday mornings for all of us. Using my original recipe.
A handful of basic ingredients is all that’s needed for simple decadence.
I hope you enjoy this retro recipe and that it may bring back happy childhood memories for you too.
Oh! I have to try and find or remember the very last recipe we made when the class ended.
Baked Alaska!
Fancy stuff. Well, we thought so at the time.
It was an exciting day as well as a sad one since the class was over for the semester.
One more thing, I got a grade of 100 for that class. Maybe that’s why I became a caterer and now food blogger. All from the love of home economics class.
Old Fashioned Cinnamon Toast
Yields: 8 slices
What you’ll need to make old fashioned cinnamon toast….
Ingredients:
- choice of bread, white and Texas toast bread work well. I used both for this recipe. (Wonder Bread and Sara Lee make a thick bread like Texas Toast) Even whole wheat bread will work
- softened salted butter
- granulated sugar
- ground cinnamon
- just a little vanilla extract
- full recipe with amounts below in the recipe box
Warm from the oven and waiting to be eaten…
Here’s how to make old fashioned cinnamon toast…
Easy-Peasy Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Lay the bread slices out on cookie sheet. Close together but not touching. Use a variety of bread like in my recipe. (I used a variety of plain white bread and a thick variety such as a Texas toast bread. See two suggested brands under ingredients. Whole wheat bread is a nice change too.)
- In a small to medium bowl, mix all the other ingredients until well combined. Spread about a tablespoon of the mixture to start over each slice of bread. Be careful and go slow not to rip the slice. When you are done with the eight slices, go back and spread more over each slice of bread until you are finished with the delicious cinnamon sugar butter mixture.
- Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes. Then turn on the broiler for another 1 to 3 minutes or until slightly bubbly and light to medium browned. Take out, keep each slice whole or slice diagonally like the original recipe.
Enjoy the cinnamon deliciousness!
Nothing like a couple of slices of old fashioned cinnamon toast to go with your morning coffee
Wait! Before leaving, check out a few more old fashioned recipes….
Old Fashioned Pistachio Ambrosia
Old Fashioned Chicken and Stars Soup
Old Fashioned Cherry Poke Cake
Old Fashioned Slow Cooker Corned Beef
full printable recipe with amounts below..

Old Fashioned Cinnamon Toast
For the real deal on cinnamon toast, you have come to the right place. This is a recipe for old fashioned cinnamon toast from the seventies. I guess it really is old fashioned! Wait until you see the easiest recipe that comes out smelling and tasting totally amazing. A childhood favorite that still will always be a favorite. Hope you try my recipe and enjoy!
Ingredients
- 8 slices regular white, thick, or whole wheat bread
- 2 sticks softened salted butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper. Lay the bread slices out on cookie sheet. Close together but not touching. Use a variety of bread like in my recipe. (I used a variety of plain white bread and a thick variety such as a Texas toast bread. See two suggested brands under ingredients. Whole wheat bread is a nice change too.)In a small to medium bowl, mix all the other ingredients until well combined. Spread about a tablespoon of the mixture to start over each slice of bread. Be careful and go slow not to rip the slice. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes. Then turn on the broiler for another 1 to 3 minutes or until slightly bubbly and light to medium browned. Take out, keep each slice whole or slice diagonally like the original recipe. Enjoy the cinnamon deliciousness!